“For them to be so upset with me is disappointing because of how everything happened,” Allen said. “That banner in 2008 is still going to be there, and we’re still going to be tied to it.

There were signs that the Celtics' title window was closing, as the Heat ended their season in back-to-back years. Allen, sensing that the team would soon be disbanded, took less money to join the Heat. Pierce, Garnett and Rivers all expressed displeasure with his decision at the time, but this past summer each of them made moves of their own to end ties to the Celtics organization.

“Look, I have a feeling they were in the same predicament I was in this summer," Allen said. "Even with Doc (Rivers), he had to make a decision that was best for himself. I was in the same situation. I’m happy they were put into the same situation as I was. Anytime you get traded there’s no telling where you could end up. They’re in a situation now where they can contend. Kevin had to make that decision, and that was the predicament I was in.”

Allen was referencing Garnett's no-trade clause, which made it clear Garnett had to provide consent in order for the Nets trade to happen. Despite the fact that their was choice involved in their departure, Garnett and Pierce do not speak to Allen. Rivers has not taken the same approach.

“Doc talked to me like I was still on his team,” Allen said. “I got heavily criticized by each one of them the minute I left. They were upset. But the writing was on the wall for us. (Celtics management) was saying, ‘Hey, we’re moving in a different direction.’ And each one of us had to make that choice. Where can we go to be successful and continue to play good basketball.”

At the time, Allen felt like his move was judge unfairly. Recent events add some credence to that feeling.

“I did think that,” he said. “But I was curious to see how it was received in the NBA and the people in Boston. In my opinion it was the same scenario. I wasn’t upset with any of those guys, because it was their right. You have to make the choices you feel are best for your situation. That’s why I was so disappointed in the reaction to me, because those guys know what it takes.”

There appears to be a different perception of Allen's decision to leave because he left in free agency and took less than the $6 million per season he was offered in Boston.

“There’s a difference between perception and reality,” he said. “I don’t think anybody wants to go. None of us wanted to go.”

Allen, who made it clear he will always be emotionally connected to Celtics, pointed out that the disbanding of the Celtics is simply what happens in basketball.

“It’s what we deal with in sports,” Allen said. “Guys get traded, injuries happen. Teams try to bridge the gap from one generation of players to the next. Players have a very short-lived career. We came, had a great five years and the team decided to move on.”